Keogh to Lead Under 21s in World Cup

Stephen Keogh (UCC) will lead the Ireland under 21 side in this year's U21 World Cup which begins next week in England.

Stephen Keogh (UCC) will lead the Ireland under 21 side in this year's U21 World Cup which begins next week in England.

All the games in this year's competition will be held in the Oxford/Reading region with Ireland opening their campaign under coach Michale Bradley with a game against the holders South Africa in Iffley Road Oxford on Friday 13th June (3pm). Keogh's side face a formidable task against a South African side that include seven players that won last year's World Cup, six of whom are playing rugby this season in the Super 12 competition.

Besides Keogh, the Ireland pack includes just one other Munster player in the shape of Shane O'Connor (Cork Constitution) but the backs contain five Munster playersm - Peter O'Brien (UCC), Ul Bohemians duo Keith Matthews and Barry Murphy, experienced scrum-half Fiach O'Loughlin and Richard Lane, the UCC wing cum full-back who was an additional player for the Munster senior squad for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup.